HUNDREDS of letters were sent to families of nursing home residents yesterday by Northern Ireland's health trusts to "reassure" them about care standards.
The blanket correspondence was met with surprise and concern by some recipients as it referred directly to the 'Commissioner of Older People's Report on Dunmurry Manor' - yet their loved one had no connection to the scandal-hit facility.
In her letter, a senior director at the Belfast health trust writes: "I fully understand that this current situation may worry you, but I want to reassure you Belfast trust takes very seriously the quality of care and lived experience of our Older People, and continues to review and monitor the care received by service users."
The Irish News asked the trust how many letters it issued but a spokeswoman was unable to provide a figure.
Health minister needed to sign off on some recommendations of damning care home probe
The Belfast trust along with a number of other trusts, who referred patients to the Dunmurry home, were severely criticised in the Commissioner's report, which was sparked by whistleblower ex-member of staff and two family members two years ago.
The facility is owned by the private Essex-based company, Runwood Homes, which has a multi-million pound annual turnover.
Despite repeated concerns and multiple inspections by the RQIA, the Commissioner's report found disturbing levels of neglect, with one elderly woman having "bedsores to the bone" while another lost 10 stone in five months.
A trust spokeswoman said: '"Following the Commissioner for Older Peoples 'Home Truths Report', Belfast Trust wrote to all those who had relatives in Dunmurry Manor care home.
"In addition, and along with some other health trusts we sent letters of reassurance to the wider population who have relatives in other nursing homes.
"The letter stresses that we take the care of our elderly residents very seriously and continue to review and monitor the care they receive from service providers."
